advice from kids my age

[Anonymous]

OK, I adapted 4005's layout plan to include a fiddle yard ( by the way, I re-mesured that space between the corner and the door. it is bigger than I thought, it will hold an 18 radi return loop, but it will be tight) bill's idea sounds like a good one because I do like realism and lots of operation. well thanks for all the suggestions, and I am open to much more. I geuss it's back to the drawing board, I will tell you what I come up with !

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy

What do you mean "Get bored running your trains in circles"!? Continuous run is the best!!!!

Don't worry, you'll outgrow that one day. I'm just not sure Bill realizes how young you guys are. He is absolutely correct in the long run though. Part of the trick here is gearing the answer to the audience.[swg]

Alex, it sounds like we have a basic concept that will work for you. The details can always be changed. So, do you think you are going to build it?

[Anonymous]

hey Elliot - what do you mean that you're not sure I realize "how young you guys are." - I, too, was young once upon a time, and I'm going thru at least my third,or is my fifth ?, childhood. . .

Seriously, Alex, if I can be of any help to you, don't hesitate to email me. It's great having new blood in this hobby.
BILL

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bill mathewson

hey Elliot - what do you mean that you're not sure I realize "how young you guys are." - I, too, was young once upon a time, and I'm going thru at least my third,or is my fifth ?, childhood. . .

Seriously, Alex, if I can be of any help to you, don't hesitate to email me. It's great having new blood in this hobby.
BILL

It's like this Bill. I'm 43, and I have a son who will be 12 in October. Sometimes I have a hard time remembering back to when I was his age. When I do manage to shake off the cobwebs, I recall that running trains in circles was still all the rage for me back then. I want to say that I was about 15 or 16 before my understanding and taste matured to the point where circles weren't important anymore.

Perhaps with the internet and access to things like this forum, kids grow up a little faster these days. By the way, I'm still in my first childhood, gray hairs creeky body and all.[swg]

I wonder what the "other Bill" would say if he saw this topic. [:0][;)] It's this kind of stuff that makes the forum so valuable.

[Anonymous]

hey Alex and Elliot -
I'm older than both of your ages added together ! I understand your point Elliot, but kids today are far more 'advanced' than we were at that age (that's both good and bad-at times as you may know if you have a teenager) and esp. w/ internet skills, better materials, easier access to reference stuff, far more model railroad and prototype magazines for inspiration and example, and a change in some of the ideas promoted in the hobby related to 'operating' a model railroad, as opposed to running trains. (and there's nothing wrong w/ that either, so let's not start a war of ideologies !) My son. until recently, often introduced me as "the Fossel" to his friends. Now that he is almost 20, he, on occasion, reluctantly admits that he is so amazed at how much I may know about something that he was an 'expert' on. . .

I have learned the hard way, after raising two kids, that they often know more about certain subjects than we do, or they think they do, and that their ability to grasp new ideas and new technologies is far superior than teaching us old dogs new tricks. In the final scheme of things, Alex will decide what kind of model railroad he wants, and subject to the approval of his board of directors - his parents - he'll build what will satisfy him.

Hopefully we have given him some things to consider, and I hope that at least one point I was sharing w/ him will register for his consideration - that always leave a 'door open,' or a spur, or an interchange possibility to incorporate this layout into a more extensive one later on, or to imply that the railroad actually went someplace "off of the layout" and to be somewhat realistic about what can and cannot be incorporated in the space he has available now.

Two sites I have uncovered - these were sent to me by a modelrailroading relative last nite - that are worth a look at, for they could be incorporated into most any layout, or even stand on their own for those truly facing very restrictive space limitations. They are germaine to what I was offering as a possibility for Alex to consider for his layout - www.wyman.info/ShuntingPuzzles/ and www.carendt.us/microplans/index.html

Re: the 'other guy w/ the same name' , he'll next express that this should now be an age restricted site - w/ Alex too young and me too old ! Stop it - don't go there - no repeats - we had our dose of "fun" last month - June is here and it's pretty outside - I can hear the Georgia Northeastern when the wind blows from the Southeast - we all exhausted our emotions and vented our spleens already, and I need to get back to the shop before my 'boss' comes home and discovers me on the Forum again! Good luck to you Alex and keep us involved in your progress. BILL

[Big_Boy_4005]

No arguement from me on any of that Bill. The answer here is for Alex to take these ideas, add some of his own and just build something!!!! IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT. One way to learn is just try something. If you don't like it, make changes. Just remember, switching is fun!

[Anonymous]

Ok, here is what I am going to do. I will probably build a light wheight, easy to move version of 4005's layout for several reasons : switching layouts have to have really good trackwork for slow, smooth switching operations which is somthing I will probably not achive on my first layout. also, I am not very good a structure modeling and 4005's layout looks pretty rual to me. however once my modeling skills develope, the dogbone layout will be semi-retired and kept in the storage shed ( I will probably use it to display at train shows ) and I will build a more complex, structure intinsive, operation intisive shelf layout. I have not yet settled on a specific shelf plan, so any MR articals that you could suggest would be nice. Thanks for every ones help !!!!! I will probably start construction in late july, so I will keep you posted ! thanks again !!!

[Anonymous]

http://www.thortrains.net/poorhof.html

[Anonymous]

http://www.thortrains.net/4holayg.html http://www.thortrains.net/4holayf.html http://www.thortrains.net/4holayd.html http://www.thortrains.net/4holaye.html http://www.thortrains.net/4holay0.html heres a few track plans that might fit your space, needs, and wants from thortrains.net

[Big_Boy_4005]

Bikeman has done some digging over at Thor's, and come up wth some interesting suggestions. I'd like to share my thoughts on these plans.

I don't think this plan is really right for the space, but Mike probably realized that after posting it and went looking for more. http://www.thortrains.net/poorhof.html

This is a really cool shelf layout and will fit perfectly, the only thing is, it has no loop option. Alex, this is a very good choice along the lines of Bill's suggestion.
http://www.thortrains.net/4holayg.html

This one is almost exactly what I have suggested, except mine is a little more complex. My design has reverse loops in it so that you could turn the trains around. Reverse loops take some special wiring which we can discuss if you end up doing that.
http://www.thortrains.net/4holayf.html

This one is starting to get too big again. It could be made to fit, but the plan looks a little confused, like it doesn't know what it wants to be. I think some of the others we've seen are better.
http://www.thortrains.net/4holayd.html

This one brings us back to space problems. The bed and desk still need to fit in the room. This would have to be turned and go all the way in front of the window.
http://www.thortrains.net/4holaye.html

This one is very nice, and is the first double track loop we've seen. It could be extended by 2' . The ends would be out a little farther at 4' deep to accomadate the outer loop's 22" radius track. 4' depth was something I was trying to avoid for purposes of reach, and because of the door on the one end.
http://www.thortrains.net/4holay0.html

By the way, Thor is a member here, and occasionally pops in over on the CTT forum. His website probably has the most track plans in one place anywhere on the web. The secret is to sift through them, which is what Mike has done. Thanks Mike.